APPENDIX. 
105 
that the object of it was an alliance, offensive and defensive, 
by which the two powers were to attack the Siamese, from 
the East and West, conquer the country, and partition it 
between them. 
Q. Do you know of any political connexion between 
the Burmese and Chinese Governments ?— A. An Em¬ 
bassy arrived in Ava in 1823, which I have understood 
to be from the Emperor of China. A white elephant 
and a princess were demanded in strong language, which 
occasioned some alarm to the Burman Court, under an 
impression that the Chinese wanted to quarrel with them. 
The white elephant and the princess, there being none 
to spare, were refused, and a number of common elephants 
and other presents were sent. 
Q. Have you ever heard that the Burmese claimed the 
assistance of the Chinese in their war with the English ?— 
A. I never heard any mention of such a thing in Ava. 
Q. Did you ever hear any of the officers of the Burman 
Government express regret that the Burmese had entered 
into a war with the English ?— A. I have, in innumerable 
instances. During my imprisonment, a great number of 
public officers, falling under the displeasure of the Go¬ 
vernment, were imprisoned along with me; and, gaining 
the good opinion of some of them, I conversed intimately 
with them on the subject of the war. As early as Novem¬ 
ber 1824, twenty Stewards of Townships, belonging to va¬ 
rious Princesses, and other ladies of the palace, got into 
disgrace, and were imprisoned. These stated to me, that 
the King was good-natured, and unwilling to disoblige 
any one; had been teazed and over-persuaded into a war 
with the English, through the intrigues of certain am¬ 
bitious military leaders, particularly Bandula and Maong- 
kyaio; that, in an evil hour, they induced him to do that 
which they all now would give the world could be undone. 
